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The story, era by era.
Eleven eras from Genesis to Revelation. All dates are approximate; where scholars disagree, the era says so rather than presenting one view as settled.
Era 1 · Before recorded history
Creation and the early world
No datable anchor in Scripture
Genesis opens with the creation of the heavens and the earth, the first humans, the flood and the scattering of the nations at Babel.
In the beginning
Genesis 1:1–5The garden of Eden
Genesis 2:8–15Noah and the flood
Genesis 7:17–24The tower of Babel
Genesis 11:1–9
Era 2 · c. 2000–1700 BC
The patriarchs
Dates debated — one common reckoning shown
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob live as wanderers in Canaan; Joseph’s story brings the family into Egypt.
The call of Abraham
Genesis 12:1–5Isaac is born
Genesis 21:1–3Jacob becomes Israel
Genesis 32:24–30Joseph in Egypt
Genesis 41:39–41
Era 3 · c. 1450 or c. 1270 BC
Exodus and wilderness
Dates debated — one common reckoning shown
Israel is brought out of Egypt under Moses, receives the Law at Sinai, wanders forty years and enters the land under Joshua. Both an earlier and a later date for the exodus are widely held.
The burning bush
Exodus 3:1–10The Passover
Exodus 12:21–28Crossing the sea
Exodus 14:21–31The Law at Sinai
Exodus 20:1–17Crossing the Jordan
Joshua 3:14–17
Era 4 · c. 1350–1050 BC
The judges
Dates debated — one common reckoning shown
Before Israel had a king, leaders called judges rose up in cycles of crisis and deliverance; Ruth’s story is set in these days.
Deborah and Barak
Judges 4:4–9Gideon is called
Judges 6:11–16Ruth and Naomi
Ruth 1:16–17Samuel is called
1 Samuel 3:1–10
Era 5 · c. 1050–930 BC
The united kingdom
Approximate dates
Saul, David and Solomon reign over all Israel; David makes Jerusalem his capital and Solomon builds the temple.
Saul anointed king
1 Samuel 10:1David and Goliath
1 Samuel 17:45–50David takes Jerusalem
2 Samuel 5:6–10Solomon dedicates the temple
1 Kings 8:22–30
Era 6 · c. 930–586 BC
The divided kingdom
Approximate dates
The kingdom splits into Israel in the north and Judah in the south. Prophets such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah and Amos speak to kings and people. Assyria takes the north in 722 BC.
The kingdom divides
1 Kings 12:16–20Elijah on Mount Carmel
1 Kings 18:36–39Isaiah’s vision
Isaiah 6:1–8Samaria falls to Assyria
2 Kings 17:5–6
Era 7 · 586–539 BC
Exile in Babylon
Approximate dates
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its temple and carries the people of Judah into exile.
Jerusalem falls
2 Kings 25:8–11“By the rivers of Babylon”
Psalm 137:1–4Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles
Jeremiah 29:4–14Daniel in the lions’ den
Daniel 6:16–23
Era 8 · 539–c. 430 BC
Return and rebuilding
Approximate dates
Under Persian rule, exiles return to Judah, rebuild the temple and, under Nehemiah, the walls of Jerusalem. Esther’s story is set in the Persian court.
Cyrus’ decree
Ezra 1:1–4The temple is rebuilt
Ezra 6:14–16Esther before the king
Esther 4:13–16The wall is finished
Nehemiah 6:15–16
Era 9 · c. 430–5 BC
Between the Testaments
Approximate dates
No book of the 66 narrates these centuries. Judea passes from Persian to Greek and then Roman rule — the world into which Jesus is born. Malachi closes the Old Testament looking ahead to a messenger.
Malachi’s promise of a messenger
Malachi 3:1Caesar Augustus’ decree
Luke 2:1–3
Era 10 · c. 5 BC – AD 30/33
The life of Jesus
Approximate dates
The Gospels record Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, upbringing in Nazareth, teaching and healing in Galilee and Judea, crucifixion in Jerusalem, and resurrection on the third day.
The birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1–7Baptism in the Jordan
Matthew 3:13–17The Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:1–12The crucifixion
John 19:16–30The resurrection
Luke 24:1–7
Era 11 · c. AD 30–95
The early church
Approximate dates
The Spirit comes at Pentecost, the message spreads from Jerusalem to Rome, and the apostles write to the young churches.
Pentecost
Acts 2:1–4Saul meets the risen Jesus
Acts 9:1–9First called Christians at Antioch
Acts 11:19–26Paul arrives in Rome
Acts 28:14–16John’s vision on Patmos
Revelation 1:9–11